Nursing (RN to BSN)

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING

Registered nurses with a diploma or an associate degree in nursing may earn a Bachelor of Science degree from Southwestern College Professional Studies. This program builds on previous nursing education and experience and is designed to position graduates for leadership roles and career advancement in a variety of healthcare settings. In recognition that nurses are broadly educated and have transferable knowledge and skills, the Southwestern College RN to BSN program provides the opportunity for further study in nursing professional practice including leadership, community health and evidence-based practice. The Nursing program is completely online.

Why Choose RN to BSN at SC?

Recently ranked by U.S. News and World Report for its online bachelor’s degree programs, Southwestern College offers quality online degrees to adult learners. With courses taught by expert faculty and access to a variety of student resources, SC learners are provided with the tools and flexibility needed to succeed in their education while preparing for professional advancement.

Practicum hours spread throughout curriculum

No chemistry requirement

Free credit transfer

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Southwestern College is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.ccneaccreditation.org).

Admission Requirements

Have completed a Registered Nurse (RN) diploma or associate degree in nursing

A current, unrestricted Registered Nurse license must be obtained by the end of the fourth course in order for the learner to continue with the nursing program courses.

Have a cumulative 2.5 GPA for all college course work. Applicants with at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA but less than a 2.5 may be granted conditional admission. Conditional admission restricts the number of credit hours to enroll in during any one session and requires a minimum GPA of 2.5 in courses completed in the nursing curriculum at SCPS. Conditional admission learners are expected to work with their Academic Success Coach.

Core Major Requirements

NURS309: Nursing Theories and Professional Practice

As the first course for registered nurses who are pursuing a baccalaureate degree in nursing, this course explores the increasing complexity of healthcare and changes in professional nursing. Through an understanding of nursing theories and the history of the role of the nurse in society, learners develop further knowledge of the evolving healthcare environment and delivery of healthcare, and the developing role of professional nursing in managing, collaborating, and advocating for quality patient care, and forging productive relationships with other key stakeholders as they examine and plan individual career goals.

NURS328: Quality Improvement through Information Technology

Used appropriately, technology can improve quality, reduce cost, eliminate waste, augment access, increase efficiency and productivity, and improve patient safety and health outcomes. Learners will develop leadership and management competencies related to health informatics and the use of information for quality assessment, evaluating performance, decision-making, and other related purposes. Learners will explore effective and ethical information management practices that help to ensure patient confidentiality, information security and integrity, and information accessibility. Prerequisite NURS309.

NURS329: Healthcare Systems and Policy

The healthcare system includes hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, school and drugstore clinics, and a variety of other organizational entities. Behavior of individuals and organizations, forms and styles of communication, and cultural values and patterns differ according to the size of the healthcare organization, type, location, purpose, and assumed typical patient. Learners in this course identify organizational theories and models of care that they apply to various healthcare settings in order to understand the relationship between theoretical models and organizational dynamics. Topics for discussion and analysis includes systems thinking, process improvement projects, regulatory requirements, and models for advocacy and collaboration. Prerequisite NURS309.

NURS330: Nursing Leadership and Management

Learners develop theoretical and practical knowledge of leadership and management components of nursing practice. Through a study of research-based theories and concepts, learners cultivate an appreciation for the roles of leadership and followership. The course also explores the nurse manager’s operational leadership and management responsibilities, including effective communication skills, management of personnel, the budgetary process, risk management, and human resource responsibilities. Upon completion, learners will be able to utilize evidence-based research and practice knowledge to impact progressive healthcare improvements. Prerequisite: NURS309.

NURS331: Evidence‐Based Practice

Learners develop the skills to read, critique, analyze, and determine how to utilize research and existing knowledge bases in nursing practice. The course provides the learner with an understanding of the evidence-based process and its application to nursing care. Developing the skills to access sources of evidence through databases and to utilize a model to translate the evidence to practice, learners increase their knowledge and skills to participate on a team implementing evidence-based care. Prerequisite: NURS309.

NURS406: Patient Centered Care Coordination

The approach toward medical care has evolved from considering the patient a subject to treat to inclusion of the patient as a member of his or her care team. This course explores the importance of understanding a patient’s genetic profile, the patient’s understanding of his or her illness, the patient’s culture’s values, beliefs, and norms to be considered toward illness and treatment, and the patient’s own goal for treatment and its outcome help form the basis for a team-based decision regarding the patient’s care. Because each person is a member of a community, the course includes a focus on the social and economic principles that contribute toward the formation of a community’s culture. Learners gain knowledge in inter-professional communication and the optimization of expertise. Prerequisite: NURS309.

NURS407: The Social and Moral Context of Health

This course includes information required for examination of ethical decision-making in clinical practice. The focus is on values clarification, ethical theory, ethical decision-making models, and professional ethical standards. Emphasis is on ethical obligations of professional nurses in their roles as citizens, members of a profession, providers of care, and designers and managers of care. Prerequisite NURS309.

NURS408: Community‐Based Public Health Nursing

Learners develop an understanding of the concept of partnering with the community as the basis for nursing practice in and on behalf of the community. Epidemiology, illness prevention, health promotion, disease prevention, and disaster preparedness approaches are explored and applied to community settings. Learners apply the practices of community assessment, disease prevention, and health promotion to planning, implementing, and evaluating community health interventions. Prerequisite: NURS309.

NURS427: Trends and Issues Facing Healthcare

Learners study current political, economic, and social trends affecting nursing and the healthcare system. Learners will integrate knowledge from previous courses to further explore healthcare quality and safety, evidenced-based practice, informatics, and the nurse’s role in today’s healthcare system. Prerequisite: NURS309.

NURS435: Professional Nursing Practicum and Project

Learners explore and reflect upon the application of the program outcomes and the knowledge and skills gained from their coursework as they explore, observe, and further experience nursing leadership and mentorship through practice hours (72 hours total to complete the program). While working with nurses in a leadership role, the nursing learner identifies, assists in providing leadership to, and participates in a clinically focused project that will refine clinical, leadership, analytical, decision making, project and task management, interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills. A project plan with expected outcomes is developed by the learner with possible guidance from
the Program Director, faculty, Field Supervisor (Preceptor), or an authorized representative from the healthcare setting, if different from the Field Supervisor. The plan is developed and is approved by the Program Director or an authorized representative before the project begins. The Program Director or designee serves as an advisor throughout the project. The course will culminate in the preparation of two comprehensive projects: A scholarly, research-based, and comprehensive report on the outcome of the clinically focused project; and a detailed and substantiated presentation on how the learner has achieved the nursing program outcomes through his or her coursework, practicum, and professional nursing project. Prerequisite: completion of all NURS courses; concurrent enrollment permitted with prior approval from the Nursing Director.

NURS435B Continuing Professional Nursing Practicum and Project (if needed)
This is a 6-week, 1- credit elective course. Students will be required to register for NURS435B in the session immediately following NURS435. Students can enroll in NURS435B a maximum of one time in order to complete the practicum and project.Prerequisite: completion of all NURS courses (concurrent enrollment permitted for NURS427 only).

General Education Requirements

The following courses are graduation requirements for the BSN program.

English 101*

English 102

Oral Communication*

General Psychology*

Anatomy & Physiology

Microbiology

Pathophysiology

College Math or College Algebra*

Statistics

Nutrition

Social Science*

Humanities*

Electives*

Human Development or Lifespan*

*Waived for students with an A.A. A.S. or A.A.S

Option for Dual Enrollment between ADN and BSN

To assist in the seamless transition from an Associates degree program to a BSN program, learners who have six (6) or fewer credit hours of their associates degree to complete can apply to Southwestern College’s RN to BSN program. Learners can begin taking SCPS nursing courses, while they continue in the completion of their associate degree.

Validation of Credit

RN to BSN learners may receive up to 30 hours of Nursing credit for proficiency validated by licensure. This allows 30 nursing credit hours from the associates degree program to be validated as meeting the outcomes equivalent to those achieved in baccalaureate-degree-granting institutions.